Volume : 7, Issue : 7, July - 2018

A Comparison of Effect of Three Hand Drying Methods on Washed Hands

Dr. Pritam Jagansing Pardeshi

Abstract :

<p>&nbsp;In this study the ability of warm air driers to dry hands hygienically was evaluated by measuring the number of</p> <div>micro-organisms on hands after washing and drying with warm air hand driers and comparing the results with the</div> <div>same protocol but drying with tissue paper and towels. The aim of the present study was to evaluate hygienic efficacy of the three different</div> <div>hand-drying methods (paper towels, cloth towels, warm air dryers). Fingerprint samples were collected by contact plate method before</div> <div>hand washing and after washing and drying. Percentage reduction in colony count by each method is analyzed. Maximum reduction in</div> <div>average colony was count observe after using tissue paper (97.51%) as a drying method which is followed by air dryer (91.57%). There was</div> <div>less reduction in colony count seen with use of towel (27.14%) as a drying method, possibly due to reuse of towels. It is concluded that tissue</div> <div>paper and air dryer are hygienic methods of drying whereas it is advisable to avoid reusable towel for hand drying.</div>